Sanitary dental floss holder



` 1,618, 1 Feb. 22,1927. E J RAYCRAFT 35 SANITARY DENTAL FLOSYS HOLDER Filed June 13, 1925 INVENTOR. 2-ga g's'ancis Jose/ah BYa (i) v TToRNEY.

Patented Feb. 22, 1927.

l reisen PAT-ENI oF Fics. i

FRANCIS JOSEPH RAYCRAFT, or sAN rnANc'iscdcALiroRNIA.

i SANITARY DENTAL rLoss'iioLnnR. t

Appiicatioafued June i3, i925.l seriai No. 36,962.

This invention relates toa sanitary dental floss holder, andthe obje-ct of the invention is to provide mea-ns whereby short lengths of dental floss may be madeuse of for cleaning the teeth, and removing occludingmasses of'food therefrom. Y f V Y It will be understood. by dentists, and oth-v f ers, that -it is very inconvenientY to use a piece offdental iioss without some means of holding it when passingit between the teeth.

With the'present invention the holderis applied to a small bottle in which the .dental floss is sold, and ak veryl short section oi the floss is held in a position convenient for use, it being unnecessary to insertvthef fingers into the mouth to pass the floss between the teeth. Y

Another object of the invention is to provide a holder which may be applied direct--V ly to the bottle containingV the floss, in which the floss is ordinarily sold, .or which may be appliedV to the cap of the bottle; either form of the invention being usable, and affording a sanitary means for holding the dental floss. v

Other objects of the invent-ion will appear as the description proceeds.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numeral is applied to the same portion throughoubut I am aware that there may be modifications thereof.YV

Fig. l is a side elevation of a bottle containing a roll of dental floss with this holder applied thereto.

Fig.` 2 is a side elevation of the dental floss holder looking from the back of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an edge elevation of the dental floss holder.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modified form of the dental floss holder, which is intended to be screwed on one of the screw caps of the ordinary vial containing dental floss, such as is purchased in drug stores.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of' the holder shown in Fig. 4. i

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of one of the bottles containing the dental floss, yas it is ordinarily dispensed in drug stores.

Figures 7 and S are in elevation at right angles to each other of a floss holder in which the threaded portion of the holder is adapted to be secured ydirectly upon the bottle, or if made of a larger size, it lmay be threaded on the bottle cover.`

TheV numeral 1 indicates an ordinary vial,

thenpassed over the two arms tween the two arms 7 and Y8 with a screw 2,. This vial `contains a small roll of dental floss, indicated at 3, andY this is the ordinarv form of 'dispensing dental Y floss in drug stores. f

.rivet l2, the object being to form a post around which the dental iioss may be wrapped and wedged to secure it tightly between the two ends of the two arms 7 and S.

The side of the plate 4, may be slightly sharpened at 13 to afford means for easily cutting the dental floss.

In the form of the invention shownA in ,y `Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive, the plate 20 has the TheV presentjinvention consists ofailat. plate-4, which is provided withV two armsy l5 and 16,said arms having ilanges7` and'f'S to'fform grooves at the ends thereof, around 'which the dental floss may be 'passed to arms 2l and Y22, precisely the same as in the previous form of the invention; while the arms 23 and 24 are sufliciently springy to be able to screw over the top of the cap 2, and tightly secure the floss holder to said cap, Ljust as it is sold by the drug stores.

It will be seen that the invention maybe sold in two forms. One form, with the cap 2 permanently secured to the two arms 9 and'lO; in which event, the cap purchased from the drug store, with the floss and the bottle, is thrown away, and the cap 2', with its associated plate 4, is then screwed on the bottle, and the dental iioss is threaded through a hole in said cap 2.

Theother form of the invention is simply screwed on the cap 2, which comes with the ordinary bottle as sold in the drug stores.

In use, a length of the dental floss is pulled out, several turns are then passed around the Vrivet l2, under the plate l1, the floss is 7 and 8, and several more turns are passed around the rivet 12, the floss being drawn tightly be* whereupon it is ready for use.

If desired the form of the invention shown in Figs. 7 and 8 may be used. In this form the plate 30V has the cap 3l formed integral therewith in a single punching operation. The plate has the groovedV arms 32 and 33 to hold the thread, and it also has 'four prongs 3l raised therefrom to all'ord an abutment around which the dental floss may he wound to hold it tightl7 when in use. In this forni of the invention thel eap is intended to t the hottle the saine as the original eap supplied therewith.

WVhat I Claim is as follows, but modifications may be made in carrying out the invention shown in the drawings, and in the above lmi'tieularly deserihed :lorin thereof, Within the purview ot the elaiuis herein:

l. A dental floss holder comprising a l'lat i plate having a threaded nieinher 'formed on the bottom portion thereof, a U shaped epening in the top portion oit said plate, the upper ends oit' the U shaped arms having turned over edges forming grooves, tongues eut in the side of said plate and hent out to `foi-1n means for holding hoth ends of a length of dental floss.

2. A dental liess holder com )rising a single pieee el' material, a flat plate having a l.) shaped upper end, turned out portions on the inner edges of said U shaped end to form grooves adapted to hold dental floss Without gripping it, raised prongs punched out oil the side of said plate for holding hoth ends of u, length o i dental floss in tension in said grooves and spanning the top oil said U shaped end., and a threaded ineniher on the lower end of said plate.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set niy hand this 20 day or May, A. D. 1925.

FRANCIS JOSEPH RAYCRAFT. 

